Cervical tracheal reconstruction
Reviewed by Sunil Sharma

This Chinese animal study looked at the use of a xenogenic acellular dermal matrix for tracheal reconstruction. The authors took a total of 22 rabbits and divided them into an experimental (repair with xenogenic acellular dermal matrix) and control group (repair with cervical fascia) after resecting a three-ring 120-degree tracheal patch. There were 10 animals in the control group and 12 in the experimental group. The symptoms of the animals, morphology and micromorphology of the reconstructed tracheas were assessed at one, four, eight, 12, 16, and 24 weeks postoperatively. In the control group, one rabbit developed subcutaneous emphysema postoperatively and died after three weeks. Significant tracheal stenosis was observed in all the animals in the control group. In the experimental group, there was no significant tracheal stenosis. There was no ingrowth of granulation tissue or accumulation of secretions in the trachea in the experimental group. The acellular dermal matrix was rapidly vascularised and epithelialised, with ciliated cells and Goblet cells being noted in the experimental group 24 weeks postoperatively. Based on these findings, the authors suggest that xenogenic acellular dermal matrix can be safely used for tracheal reonstruction in rabbits, maintaining luminal form and epithelial lining, as well as preventing postoperative restenosis. The next step would be to see if this model is translatable into humans.

Application of xenogenic acellular dermal matrix for reconstruction of cervical tracheal defects in a rabbit model.
Li P, Li S, Li J, Yang X.
B-ENT
2023;19(2):74-9.